Skin Track Bug

Anybody know what this bug is and why they're attracted to skin tracks? Never seem to see them anyplace else.

yup... those are Maximus Angorius Sanguineous, otherwise known as the Large Angora Tick. Angora Ticks are a parasite that lay their eggs in the hair of Angora Goats. Mohair skins are made from Angora goat hair and the very small eggs (microscopic) often remain on Mohair skins even through the manufacturing process. The eggs can remain dormant for up to 4 years. While skinning, eggs often release and drop into the skin track. With the right temperature and conditions, the dormant but fertallized eggs hatch and the have a very quick gestation period. They can grow to the size you see in skin tracks very quickly and tend to wander skin tracks until they die off as there usually aren't any hosts palatable to these insects. They do not host on humans or dogs just Angora goats.

That looks like a "rock crawler" aka "ice crawler" aka Grylloblatta spp. Discovered in Canada in 1911 the occur almost exclusively on mountains >500 m high, especially on snowfields and glaciers where they feed on other insects in the snow and ice (blown in by wind). You see the only in skin because you probably spend most your time looking down when you are looking at the skin track.

I like blitz's answer better.

I really hope Blizz's answer is made up, because it would be SO GOOD for a pull of the leg post:) It's sort of sad thinking of these guys roaming the skintrack looking for some goat fur to nestle into.

I just checked the calendar. The first reply is exactly eight days early. So clever... The Onion needs you!

Bruce